Blu Moon Ace Impressive Winner of Maryland Million Sprint
Blu Moon Ace Impressive Winner of Maryland Million Sprint
G3-Placed Gelding Earns Second Career Stakes Win as 2-5 Favorite
LAUREL, MD – Unable to get to his customary position in front following a poor break, Robert L. Cole Jr.’s Blu Moon Ace came with a sweeping move on the outside before powering down the stretch for a 2 ¾-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Maryland Million Sprint at Laurel Park.
The six-furlong Sprint for 3-year-olds and up was the was the second of seven stakes that, along with four starter stakes, comprised the 32nd annual Jim McKay Maryland Million Day program, the groundbreaking concept named for the late Hall of Fame broadcaster that debuted in 1986.
Bred in Maryland by the late Howard Bender and ridden by Julian Pimentel for trainer Kevin Patterson, Blu Moon Ace ($2.80) completed the distance in 1:09.06 over a fast main track. Rockinn On Bye rallied late to pass Struth by a length for second.
They were followed by Winplaceorshowono, Easy River, Smile for Eternity and Vim. Among the scratches was defending Maryland Million Sprint winner Nicaradalic Rocks.
“I was scared to death when he broke lousy and was behind horses. I wasn’t quite expecting that. I’m not sure if we quite figured out what happened there,” Cole said. “Driving to the lead, we wanted to be wide. From what I saw earlier when a first-time starter won five wide in the stretch, I thought we out to stay wide.
“That definitely cost us a length or two coming out of the gate like that,” he added. “He faced some adversity. That was not a great trip; he just overpowered them. It’s lucky to have one like this.”
Favored at 2-5 in a field of seven, Blu Moon Ace broke a step slow and Pimentel found himself behind a wall of horses led by 50-1 long shot Smile for Eternity, in front through the opening quarter of 22.13 seconds. Pimentel confidently shifted to the outside for clear run and quickly gained on the leaders, taking over around the far turn following a half in 45.18.
Once straightened for home Blu Moon Ace gained some separation from his rivals and cruised home for his second stakes victory in three starts since being claimed by Cole for $30,000 out of a July 20 win at Delaware Park. The only loss came by a neck in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G3) Sept. 16 at Laurel.
“Today he was a little more wound up than he normally is. When he came out of the paddock there he was a little jumpy. Normally he’s got his head down and he makes you worry the other way,” Patterson said. “Today [was] a little something different than I’m used to not seeing him on the front end coming from speed tracks.
“But, with Julian on him he is a little bit more patient,” he added. “I was a little worried over there but then I saw him making his run on the outside and you could see he had a ton of horse whenever they turned for home. I was really excited when he went in front.”
Cole said Blu Moon Ace, a gelded 4-year-old son of Malibu Moon out of the Menifee mare Access Fee, would likely run back in the $200,000 Fabulous Strike Nov. 22 at Penn National and was expected to return to Maryland for either or both of the $75,000 Howard M. Bender Memorial Dec. 9 and the $100,000 Dave’s Friend Dec. 30.
“When we claimed him we thought we might have a horse that could win a $100,000 race. We never thought we’d have a horse that could win a $200,000 or $250,000 race,” Cole said. “But it’s all good. There isn’t anybody that’s tried harder than me so I guess if you keep plugging along you get lucky.”
